The Year of The Seed

A college student infiltrates and exposes a messianic cult.

Rich Maisel was your typical Jewish teenager growing up on New York's Long Island in the early 1980s. He had a strong Jewish identity, was a supporter of Israel, and was active in many Jewish social causes. Torah observance, though, wasn't really part of the equation.

Like many other Long Island high school graduates, Rich registered at the State University of New York at Albany (SUNYA). Freshman year for Rich at SUNYA passed fairly uneventfully. He was doing well enough in his studies, had part-time jobs at the kosher cafeteria and teaching Hebrew school in the local Reform temple, and he was making new friends. During his sophomore year, Rich was elected president of the university's Reform Jewish student group. At the same time, a messianic Jewish congregation called "the Seed of Abraham" opened in Albany.

DECEPTION AND SLICK MARKETING

The Seed used deception and slick marketing to appeal to uninformed Jews.

The Seed, like all messianic Jewish congregations, used deception and slick marketing to appeal to uninformed Jews, attempting to convince them that it is Jewish to believe in Jesus. The Seed's public functions and services were drawing increasing numbers, and somehow it had even succeeded in having one of its fellow believers hired as a Hebrew school teacher at the local Conservative synagogue.

All of this raised the ire of Chaim Feinberg, z"l, a young, fiery Orthodox Jew living in Albany's small Orthodox community. He brought his concerns to Scott Moskowitz, an active member of the Orthodox Jewish student's group at SUNYA. Scott, in turn, raised the issue with Rich and suggested that they endeavor to find a non-Jewish student to join the Seed to investigate its inner workings and tactics.

But finding a non-Jew willing to take the risks involved in such an endeavor was no easy feat. And so Rich boldly volunteered to accept the job himself. "While I don't know much about Jewish law," he said, "I've heard of the concept of saving lives, pikuach nefesh. Doesn't this job fall into that category?"

Unsure of what to do, Moskowitz asked Rich to speak with Chaim Feinberg about his proposal.

Rich called Feinberg, who immediately expressed his misgivings. After a lengthy discussion, however, Feinberg softened to the idea, but was not willing to make a decision on his own. There were many thorny halachic issues involved in the proposal, such as exposing Rich to apostasy and the attendance of The Seed functions on Shabbos. Feinberg spoke with a renowned rabbi. After clarifying the issues and gaining his support, he called Rich.

"Okay, Rich, we can move forward with the plan. But," Feinberg cautioned, "there will be strict ground rules that you'll have to follow throughout the process." These rules included the instruction that Rich was not to take a single move without Feinberg's approval, and that after each meeting with The Seed, Rich would need to sit and learn with Feinberg as a sort of deprogramming. Rich readily agreed to the rules, hung up, and promptly broke the first rule: he called Pastor Birnbaum, the leader of The Seed, directly.

INFILTRATING THE SEED

During that first phone call, Rich and Pastor Birnbaum spent two hours talking. Rich laid the bait: he was lonely, Albany was so gloomy, everybody was so materialistic, he was a twice-a-year Jew who yearned for more spirituality. Birnbaum did not just take the bait, he gobbled it up voraciously. He told Rich that he knew exactly how he felt since he, too, had attended college in Albany.

Birnbaum asked, "Do you have a Bible?" Rich responded affirmatively and Birnbaum instructed him to open it to the Book of Isaiah. Birnbaum then attempted to "show" Rich how the Tanach speaks of Jesus as the messiah and explained to him that believing in him did not make someone "un-Jewish." In fact, Birnbaum explained, believing in Jesus made a Jew "complete."

After hanging up, Rich excitedly called Feinberg to advise him of the call. Feinberg was irate. After all, Rich had broken his agreement not to take any steps without Feinberg's consent. At the same time, Feinberg saw in Rich a bit of his own passion and, deep down, he knew that they had the right guy for the job.

And so, now fully cognizant of the importance of following Feinberg's rules, Rich began to attend The Seed meetings. He was embraced with warmth by his "fellow members." They were enthused to share their love of Jesus and their common Jewish roots, and they were thrilled by Rich's musical ability.

Before long, he was baptized, anointed with olive oil, and became a "baby believer."

Rich quickly became a stalwart of The Seed community. Before long, he was baptized, anointed with olive oil, and became a "baby believer." Eventually he received "spiritual gifts," and the other members of the group believed that he could heal with his hands and receive prophetic visions. With each "spiritual gift," Rich rose higher in the ranks of The Seed until he became a messianic deacon.

Throughout this time, Rich maintained a full credit load at the university and continued to lead Hillel's Reform group, teaching Hebrew school and working in the campus kosher kitchen. Nearly everyone, including his parents, family, and friends, remained unaware of Rich's double life.

Rich was in constant contact with Feinberg, nearly matching hour for hour the time he spent with The Seed -- deprogramming, learning together, and reporting on the tactics, inner workings, and funding structure of the Seed. At one point Larry Levy, then executive director of Jews for Judaism in Baltimore, was flown in to add his expertise to the deprogramming team working with Rich. On the inside, other than Rich's insistence that Seed members seek medical assistance for serious conditions that they had been told would be healed by religion and belief, Rich pretty much became their poster child.

Months went by. Rich found himself in dozens of situations for which he never could have planned. He and Feinberg found that prior consultation was often not possible. Rich learned to think fast and fly by the seat of his pants -- and debriefing and damage control afterward became critical.

Nearly six months in, Feinberg decided to test the waters: how would The Seed treat a fellow believer who began expressing doubts? And so Rich began leaving meetings early, quietly expressing skepticism, and skipping meetings altogether. Before long, Rich was picked up by Pastor Birnbaum and a few friends, who invited him for coffee. As it turned out, coffee was not what Birnbaum had in mind.

THE THREAT

Rich was taken to an abandoned farmhouse with a wooden table and chairs and a single swinging light bulb.

The ride was nearly two hours long through unknown, labyrinthine roads in upstate New York. It ended at an abandoned farmhouse with a wooden table and chairs and a single swinging light bulb. After sitting down, Rich was warned, "You can never leave from beneath the umbrella of Jesus." If he did, Birnbaum threatened, the devil would rip out his heart. While Rich didn't believe such nonsense, as the hours rolled on through the night -- there in the middle of nowhere -- and the gruesome stories built to a fever pitch, the fact that he was hours away from civilization with potentially violent strangers frightened him more and more.

Rich was not returned to his dorm for over ten hours. Shaking and terrified, he didn't even bother to go to his room. He phoned Feinberg and demanded, "Come get me... now!"

Rich spent the next three days recovering at the Feinberg home. Before he left, Feinberg told Rich, "That's it. It's time to plot our exit strategy."

Suddenly, Rich was a "believer" again and a faithful Seed meeting attendee. The Seed had been planning a grand, community-wide Purim play, followed by a speech by a Holocaust revisionist. Rich had already been cast in the role of Achashveirosh. It was decided that Rich would take advantage of the public forum to expose and denounce Pastor Birnbaum and The Seed of Abraham.

On the night of the play, dozens of Rich's fellow students were in attendance, secretly aware of Rich's intent. For some strange reason, Pastor Birnbaum and his wife remained close to the stage during the presentation of the play. Just as Haman's plot was revealed to Achashveriosh, who was about to order that Haman be hanged on the gallows that he had built for Mordechai, Rich broke character and began his denunciation:

Turning to Birnbaum he said, "This is the modern-day Haman in new colors!"

"Guard, guards, seize him! He shall be hanged on the same gallows that he has built for the Jews." Turning to Birnbaum he said, "This is the modern-day Haman in new colors!

"This man, this missionary, systematically deceives Jews into believing they can remain Jewish when The Seed of Abraham is so obviously and painfully a Christian conversion group. This is the new Haman, my friends. I have been here, personally evaluating The Seed of Abraham for six months, and I can honestly say to every person in this room that there is not a single drop of Judaism here, only a sad, sad pretense. What happens after a Jew is lured here by phony Jewish stars and sweet-sounding Hebrew words? Like me, he will be called a baby believer, not a Jew but a baby believer in Jesus.

"Yet Mr. Birnbaum has the nerve, the audacity, to call this group ‘Hebrew Christians.' This is a ridiculous contradiction, because a Jew is a Jew and never a Christian.

"I feel very sad tonight. This is Purim, a holy night, when the Jews were saved from soul-destroyers like The Seed of Abraham. I pray that each and every Jew in this room will turn immediately to a true Judaism, a Judaism that has no room for Christian messiahs and that celebrates Purim as it was meant to be celebrated -- as a true Jewish holy day when the Jews were saved from these Hamans, who would destroy them either in body or in spirit, by converting their souls to Christianity."

Pastor Birnbaum, who was standing nearby, rushed toward Rich and tried to push him off the stage. But Rich stood his ground. Rich's fellow SUNYA students shouted in support, and the crowd split into two factions. Pushing and shoving broke out. In the videotape of the play, a representative of the Assemblies of God (the world's largest Christian denomination, which funds projects to ensnare Jews) looks on dourly, and a pistol can clearly be seen being drawn from someone's waistband. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the police eventually broke up the fracas and forced Rich and his supporters to leave the building.

THE SEED EXPOSED

The denunciation was successful. It publicly exposed The Seed for what it was, and reports run by local newspapers helped spread the story. Birnbaum pressed criminal charges against Rich, and many of Rich's former friends from The Seed began to make large contributions to evangelical, Pentecostal Christian radio stations and other organizations in his name in order to save his soul. But these were the least of Rich's problems. Many Seed members believed that Rich was the devil incarnate, and so Rich began receiving repeated telephone death threats. It was evident that he needed to be out of the public eye.

Rich had always toyed with the idea of spending junior year abroad and now the idea seemed perfect. He enrolled in Hebrew University. After a few weeks at Hebrew U, the seed of Torah that had been planted in Albany and watered by Chaim Feinberg began sprouting. Why did I travel halfway around the world to study the same things I had been studying in Albany? Rich wondered. What am I doing in the spiritual capital of the world without tapping into anything spiritual?

By the end of September, Rich had enrolled in Aish HaTorah.

King Solomon teaches us "There is a time to plant and a time to uproot that which has been planted." Sometimes, it seems, by uprooting what has been planted, a person also plants anew. While The Seed of Abraham has been relegated to the dustbin of history, Rich Maisel and his family are living a blossoming Torah life.

This article is dedicated in memory of Chaim Feinberg, z"l. It originally appeared in Horizons magazine.

Related Articles:

About the Author

David A. Linn lives in Kew Garden Hills, New York, with his wife, Sandy, and their children. He is an attorney in private practice, adjunct professor at Queens College, a freelance writer and editor and co-Administrator of BeyondBT.com. David attended college with Reuven Maisel during "the year of the Seed."

Today Reuven Maisel lives with his family in Queens, New York, where he is a social worker/clinical psychotherapist in public and private practice. He publicly speaks on his experiences infiltrating a messianic Jewish cult.

Visitor Comments: 72

(63)
Anonymous,
October 9, 2013 5:01 PM

Just to be in touch...

How I wish it were not true...but it is. The night in that barn was the most terrifying experience of my life despite its 'cliche detective novel' feel...a table, some folding chairs-possibly from the trunk...and-yes a hanging light (You were expecting a chandelier?) -The important part was the night of terror and satan stories that followed until dawn in Re: to those that abandon the 'umbrella of Yeshuah"...My daughter Batsheva is now in college & Shoshana is graduating HS ...Shiah has begun attending HS at a fine Jewish school...I guess I'm realizing what a wide eyed and vulnerable age I was at and who they were really preying upon -innocents, seekers, lonely souls yearning to find a place...The 'Flock' were not evil -just deceived and brainwashed good people. That's part of what made the end so difficult for me. Only the leadership is truly in the KNOW.- I myself am a privately practicing psychotherapist with many non-Jewish friends and clients and in fact have just completed a 200 hr Yoga Teachers Trainers course in order to bring my Far-Eastern and Middle-Eastern Philosophies and tools to bear in my practice in helping others to find meaningful spiritual, physical and emotional balance ALWAYS within a Kosher Jewish Framework. The value of Meditation or Hishbodadut has been discussed by Rav. Kook, the Kutsker Rav, Rav Areh Kaplan and so many others -Rishon and Acharon...And the Idea of the 'Righteous Gentile' is well known and indisputable -Ghandi, MLK, Mother Theresa, The Dhali Llama -and so many every day folk who are simply concerned with family, faith and doing their piece day to day with love, compassion and mindfulness. I am not closed nor am I elitist. The world is filled with riches and with Torah as a guide and a solid Rav - walk through the 'Pardeis' - but take care... I am a camper and a hiker as well; and the most seemingly beautiful adventure -without preparation, a proper path or guide holds incalculable danger. With Love. Rich

(62)
MABSH"Y,
October 9, 2013 12:54 PM

It's LevEy, not Levy

You might want to correct Larry's last name. He is a personal friend of mine.

(61)
Tonya,
October 7, 2013 2:57 PM

Like all extremists, they should not be considered the "standard"

This is a scary, sad, and infuriating example of evil cloaked in a way to make victims of vulnerable hearts. I caution we do not let these experiences blind us with prejudice. Be wise and on guard, yes. But do not let fear breed prejudice and hate because of what happened here. I have Christian friends who would be offended by The Seed as well. Hate is dangerous, and can set its own seed deep when we do not choose to react in wisdom. When you come across those who *genuinely* respect the Torah, who seek to know the author of all creation, who want to understand the message in what we know, will you lump them all together as apostates because that person also wears a cross around their neck and you remember this story? There are also stories I know of Christians and Jews finding peace between each other, of experiencing the true depth of Purim and celebrating it without the strife described here.
Again, I believe it is important to be on guard, and remember that The Seed is an example of an extremist group, but will not vilify all Christian groups just because of them.

Anonymous,
October 12, 2013 2:10 PM

Amen

Tonya, you are so right. As a G_d fearing gentile, this hurts.

C. J.,
October 20, 2013 5:48 AM

Try to understand.

As a Jew, I have been a target of conversion as long as I can remember (by mainstream Christian denominations.) I am going to "hell" because Jesus is not my savior. I can't relate to G-d because the only way I can get to Him is through Jesus. Please, no quotations from Christian scripture, I have my own. We have been targets of elimination for centuries. Perhaps it's not our physical lives this time but our Jewish souls. I'ts the same goal, a world without Jews.

(60)
Anonymous,
October 4, 2013 9:35 AM

There are so much "messy-anic" group coming these days. And it won't be surprising that those macro ministries like the Assemblies of God would be one of those anti-Semitic in camouflage . Christianity has become the potentially persecutor of the Jewish people. May Hashem grant them chesed.

(59)
Neil Harris,
October 3, 2013 7:15 PM

Wow, what a stroy!

Thanks for bringing this story to us. It's nice to see how one person can make a difference.

(58)
Matt,
October 3, 2013 1:21 AM

Nazis spread lies about us.

Let’s not make the same mistake!

(57)
Anonymous,
October 3, 2013 12:05 AM

I've actually visited this place!

In Albany, I went to a couple of their services. I left because I didn't have the attention span to sit through 2.5 hours of singing. But I also want to expose the double standard used in the article here. As a fellow Jew who had attended this place, I was having doubts about their "messianic" faith. But whenever I'd try to talk to non-messianic Jews about these doubts, they immediately ignored me and turned me away, assuming I was on some mission to convert them. :/

(56)
Shoshannah,
October 2, 2013 11:43 PM

I believe it

I've been involved with these groups in the past, before embracing Judaism as the truth, and as a previous ignorant Jew. I do have to say we could have left at any time without harassment but the tactics were the same regarding conversion and baby xtians, etc. Anyone debating semantics on this (what's the biggest evangelical org, etc.) is missing the point. G-d gets angry enough at murdered bodies, but murdered souls????? Wow, look out! Thanks so much for this article.

(55)
Anonymous,
October 2, 2013 11:35 PM

My experiences with Seed of Abraham

As a (now retired) New York State employee, I spent the majority of my career working in Albany and had been solicited several times by Seed of Abraham members and importuned for phone chats, dates, and dinner invites. The connecting thread with all of them is that they never outright identified openly themselves as messianics. I would recommend the following tips for dealing with these dangerous fakes: 1.ask the name of their synagogue up front. Seed of Abraham is known for giving Hebrew versions of their name but all synagogues are listed in the phone book. I understand that Seed of Abraham attempted to get itself listed under Synagogues in the phone book but that all Jewish congregations informed Verizon that their listing was not acceptable. Rather than list themselves under Churches, SOA elected to stay out of the phone book entirely.2. They will question you about your level of Jewish observance but be quite reticent about their own.3.They are not all ethnic Jews in this cult but they seem to assign converted cultists to Jews. They are apparently well-trained to avoid bringing up jesus in their discussions but when you start question them directly about their christianity, they tend to cave. Trust your instincts in questioning them. DO NOT let politeness stand in the way.Thank you for this article. These people are horrific and Jews cannot be warned enough about them. Single people should be definitely cautioned about them in the dating world.

(54)
Louis Eisenhauer,
October 2, 2013 9:51 PM

"abandoned farmhouse with a wooden table and chairs and a single swinging light bulb. "

I was quite mesmerised and terrified by this story until the scary part "abandoned farmhouse with a wooden table and chairs and a single swinging light bulb. " All in upstate NY so uncivilized and desolate. The cliches of dimestore detective novels really detracts from the story and its veracity. I hope Birnbaum was arrested for kidnapping and assault. Was He? Is there a link to the video of the Purim play?

David Linn,
October 3, 2013 11:21 PM

Wrote it as it Was

The only person that I know that was there was Reuven. These are his words. I wasn't there. There are plenty of desolate areas two hours away from Albany (which is how long Reuven said the ride was).

(53)
Anonymous,
October 2, 2013 8:34 PM

Maybe synagogues should worry, too.

We sometimes had non-Jews in our synagogue for different events. And one in particular was "messianic" and related to a member. This person was caught and repremanded by the Rabbi for prostelitizing during a kiddish, including giving out cards;but she was still welcome. (With firm instruction that it not happen again.) Later, she stopped coming b/c someone made an (unrelated) remark about Jewish members not in attendace at a meeting-that they should have been. She related it somehow to herself. And she convinced her (Jewish) relative to stop coming. Months later, it was "blamed" on the Rabbi not being welcoming. After all, he had said in the past that Jesus was a false prophet and that "messianic" wasn't Judaism. (Some critical members of the administration did hold it up as an example against the Rabbi and his contract was not renewed.) Tolerance is one thing-giving up on Jewish beliefs to placate is another!! It's NOT a "branch" of Judaism. Maybe they'll hold their own services in the santcuary next! But I wont know, I have since left, as have a number of others.
It strikes me that we have stop being so apoligetic: about Kosher, about not allowing cellphone use in the sancuary, about money on Shabbos, or any halacha or ritual, especially in the synagogue. It's a SYNAGOGUE!!

(52)
Avi,
October 2, 2013 5:06 PM

Many spiritually dangerous organizations...

out there. And many with a supposed holy bent. Christianity has a penchant for weird factions, as can be demonstrated by International House of Prayer, British-Israelism, Strange Fire, Anabaptists, and now, S of A, and many many more. Stay away from these strange evils.

(51)
David Honaker,
October 2, 2013 4:09 PM

Assemblies of God in Article

The "Assemblies of God" is not at all the "largest Christian denomination." The largest is the Roman Catholic, then Baptist, Methodist, Latter-day Saints ("Mormon"). The article would be better served, and mire authentic, with correct facts.

David Linn,
October 3, 2013 12:02 AM

Assemblies of God

You are, of course, correct. That was an editing error. Assemblies of God is the largest Pentacostal denomination. With 60 Million members, it is probably the fifth or sixth largest Christian denomination.

(50)
Shemaya,
October 2, 2013 3:55 PM

Really?

I am a convert. I know Christianity of even this more militant type well living in the 'Bible Belt' not New York but among the lunatic fringe of evangelicals, so consider perhaps these particular "Messianics" may be more tame.

Two parts of this story do not sound quite right based on my experiences, but of course, mine are perhaps much different.

When Rich addresses the audience with a prolonged speech, it is hard for me to imagine him getting out much more than a few sentences before all hell would break lose. And most Christians of any type are suckered in on only a psychological, emotional basis. All the facts in the world mean little.

Also though a gang of fellow students would be great support, I tend to think a sizable group of strangers might look suspicious to these cult types.

I am not a critic of counter-missionary efforts but a fan. I studied as an adult Christian for 5 years when I had to realize without the help of any other Jew that Christianity was bogus biblically and otherwise. I know Christianity. I know Judaism but still learning after 30 years. Tovia Singer said that knowing the real thing allows you to spot a counterfeit and he's right. But first a person has to look for the differences and perhaps that is the problem. And it seems that Rich might be more comfortable in Israel, but there is a strong missionary threat there also. Christianity must be 'fought' with the same zeal and effort as that which built Israel in the early days. Fire with fire without compromise. Intermarriage is also a threat that must be met head on as the same type of threat missionaries are.

Anonymous,
October 3, 2013 12:09 AM

Parts of the Story That Don't Sound Right

There is actually a video of the play itself. I have seen it several times and viewed it again just before writing this piece. I don't think it has ever been converted, no pun intended, (these were pre-YouTube days).
As to the question of whether a handful of new faces would raise suspicion, the play was open to the public and the Seed was actually hoping to have as many members of the Jewish community as possible.

(49)
Michael,
October 2, 2013 2:59 PM

If the events are accurate...

I have little direct knlowedge of "messianic congregations" but if such activity is occurring such as the detainment, interrogation and intimidation as shared in this article, I would label that group a cult regardless of their affiliations.

(48)
Anonymous,
October 2, 2013 2:52 PM

a powerful and frightening story

This story was powerfully written...and, baruch Hashem, it has a happy ending. The whole cult thing to me is very frightening, and I don't understand at all what's the deal with "messianic Jews" -- never really heard of them much until I recently relocated to SW Florida, where I have personally encountered quite a few of them...very creepy, Hashem should protect us all!

(47)
Naftali,
October 2, 2013 12:36 PM

Outreach Judaism series by Tovia Singer : great series that deals with MJ's and rescueing jews / audio cd's with study guide

This series is extremely valuable to anyone who knows someone under the grips of the messianic groups. I know from personal with family and this series of cd's and study book as well as other friends I had met who were involved with Messianics. If you can convince them to go thru the series and listen to the cd's along with the study guide it will show them many many of the lies and falsehoods that exist in messianic christian missionary work.

Anonymous,
October 3, 2013 12:12 AM

Tovia Singer

Agreed. Tovia's series is comprehensive and compelling. Tovia is a friend and I have personally experienced his series and counseling work wonders.

(46)
Ellen Appelbaum,
October 2, 2013 12:21 PM

Hero

I'm an alumna of Albany State with a similar background -- Reform, identified, and no Torah. However, Rabbi Rubin, the Chabad Shaliach, showed up in my senior year. Baruch Hashem. How right on Rich was to seize the holiness of Purim and say exactly what needed to be said.

(45)
Sherry Waldman,
July 12, 2013 11:35 PM

Seeking info from author

Mr. Linn, reading your article I have too many thoughts to express in a brief comment. Since we did meet some years ago, and you know my connection to his story, I welcome your contacting me to discuss it.Sherry Waldman

(44)
Maria Vonstettina,
December 6, 2011 6:28 AM

A Locall gal sleuthing about the Seed of Abraham in Albany NY

I was searching online for any public information about the Seed of Abraham, andI was utterly astounded to have had my own observations and suspicions about the origin and authenticity of the S of A confirmed by this horrific account of spiritual abuse .I hope that Richard is still reading these posts, and will contact me soon. I have grave concerns for the health and well being of several young person who have been forced to attend there, as well as other matters,, and would appreciate any further insight or information. If you email me, I will send additional contact information asap
Sincerely,
Maria Vonstettina..

(43)
Diana,
October 19, 2009 1:53 PM

Missionaries have received agreement from court to open a "welfare-restaurant" in hasidic area of Jerusalem; money is needed to appeal.

We were informed during a Torah class this shabbat, that the org below needs to come up quick with a huge sum to appeal and prevent those missionaries to open this welfare restaurant in the area. Maybe your org can help. http://www.yadleachim.org

(42)
Candra Campbell,
October 13, 2009 5:31 PM

Thank you so much for doing this Rich and friends!

I am a Jew that was raised (against my will) in a Christian home and while I have made every effort to bring my mother back to Judaism she only gets trapped in the snare of the Messianic followers. I wish I would have had someone to deprogram me. It has been a long battle and after years I still find "seeds" hidden in the corners of my mind, long buried, that I have to dig up and toss aside. I have always wanted to do something similar to this. G-d willing, when my knowledge of Torah is stronger than the lies I was fed as a child, I might get the chance. Shalom to you and your family.

(41)
Richard Maisel,
September 3, 2009 6:04 PM

FYI

For those of you who are yearning for further information on exactly why Jews do not believe in jesus... PLEASE read the article above 'why Jews Don't Believe In jesus' - It's well written, consise, clear and informative! Rich Maisel

(40)
Richard Maisel,
September 2, 2009 2:10 AM

Responses from Richard Maisel

Robert P 17 - Right on! They are wolves in sheep's clothing and frequently use Hebrew and Jewish seeming subterfuge to weave their sticky wicked web of deceit.
Ralph G 20 - YOU'RE DOIN' WHAT A 'PERSON LIKE YOU' OUGHT TO BE DOING! Thank you. Keep being a good Christian! Qupporting us is so very much appreciated - Targeting us and goaling to absorb us...not so much. :) Be well. - Rich
Pleasant 23 - i hear your frustration, anger, and drive to do something...If you are a proud Jewish woman - Then learn Torah! - When the time comes marry Jewish, Raise strong Jewish children and make observance a vibrant daily joyous affair in your loving home. Speak of your experiences with less anger as anger eats at you like acid - instead speak to educate and excite Jews. Speak so that others who share similar experiences feel less alone and so fewer need have similar sxperiences as a result of having heard your words. Speak with a sense of peace and gratitude as you wouldn't have come to where you are if not for all that you have been through. LIVING TRUE AND WELL IS OF COURSE THE SWEETEST REVENGE...Live true and well. - Rich
My true love and admiration to all of you who have taken an interest in this story. I am not a blogger and I'm a terrible typist so this is likely to be my final word for now but stay safe, sane and strong...& on the Derech...I'll see you along the way! :) - Richard Maisel ACSW,LMSW

(39)
Richard Maisel,
September 2, 2009 1:45 AM

More responses from Richard Maisel

Anonymous 13 - I never filed any formal kidnapping charges against them. However, birnbaum and I were served with suppeanas for disturbing the peace at the seeds Purim outreach Program in Albany. Eventually all charges were thrown out of court and I left the country for Israel, safety and change - that I could not at that time have imagined as the adventure of Torah Discovery that lay ahead and that would make my preceeding adventures pale in comparison. - Rich
Michael 15 - Awesome! At 18 I had no idea there was a 2nd paragraph of the Shema or what a Shmoneh Esreh was. With eyes focused ever ahead it can sometimes become discouraging to note how far it seems we have yet to go and how many have so outpaced us leaving nothing but the dry and dusty taste of the lonely road in our mouths. At these times I look back at how far I've come...and I look up for strength. Back and Up... and onward - Michael...We've come a long way baby! - --Richard Maisel ACSW, LMSW

(38)
Richard Maisel,
September 2, 2009 1:28 AM

More responses from Richard Maisel

Susan 9 - You couldn't be more right! - ...barely scratches the surface...and I lived it! Millions of dollars are dedicated yearly to 'The Problem of Converting The Jews" - I, Myself have attended christian seminars such as: 'Have you hugged a Jew today? - Into The Kingdom' and the money is coming from the right wing pentecostal evangelical Christian world as well as more surprisingly moderate Christian sources. They target under informed of easily confused Jews, Russian, Israelli and other immigrants with phamplets and groups which employ their mother toungues. So varied is their bait and so honed their tactics - We HAVE to Scratc the surface and... scratch at it - educating our own and marring their polished lies unti one day they become too damaged for easy resale - Rich
Anon 11- You're killin' me! - It's been 16 years - you've got to give yourself a break. I say this as an anti cult and missionary activist AND as a Therapist. Any Rabbi will tell you that sincere Teshuvah is accepted unto the moment of their death. You're under deadline! :) Further, a Baal Teshuvah is not culpable and is absolved from pre-Teshuvah transgressions as it is considered as though they had been 'kidnapped by pirates' during this period and cannot be held responsible for behavior that they were pressured into - or actions performed prior to the knowledge that - appropriate behavior is other than what they believed to be true at the time. You are on a different path now! Good for you and your healthy decision for the past 16 years,... - moment to moment and day to day from this moment on. Forgive yourself and live ...right...now! - --Richard Maisel ACSW, LMSW

(37)
Richard Maisel,
September 2, 2009 12:54 AM

Batsheva F 3 - One of my dearest and oldest friends is Rabbi Raphael Shore - an award winning documentary film maker in Jerusalem at AishHa Torah where I began My Teshuvah - Maybe he'll take an interest now that you've mentioned it...Come on Rob..Give me a call! -XORich
Miriam W C 5 - Point well taken. - Why do they succeed - because they make it warm, welcoming, vibrant, inclusive, emotional, and pertinent daily as opposed to dry, 'You're sitting in my seat', Twice a year or so..., Shallow fashion show competition, antiquated, irrelavant, 'I think I know it all and it's boring & "thank G-d I'm done at 13!"...We definately need to make some changes in our approach. Aish Ha Torah, The Jewish Heritage Center of Queens ANd Long Island and Dozens of other Kiruv oriented groups are making those changes in order to breathe new life into the transmission of authentic Judaism in a way that is exciting, meaningful and relevant today and daily-Richard Maisel ACSW, LMSW

(36)
Richard Maisel,
September 2, 2009 12:39 AM

More responses from Richard Maisel

Marie 28 - I was so heartened to read your comment - and...Welcome home! - each time you arrive;...again and again from day to day - ...find newness and joy as well as vigor and strength! !e know that the most valuable rewards are the fruits of struggle and sincere yearning as opposed to the easy road - ...the tangible - ...the flesh and blood - ...the 'someone else' who died for our sins. We must muster the courage to embrace a sense of Personal Responsibility for our own good and poor decisions and missed spiritual opportunities in our own personal relationship with the physically intangible, allmighty, King of kings and Master of the Universe who accepts out Tchoovah personally and without intermediary when offered with the most sincere intentions and corrective action - Rich :)
Anonymous 27 - I agree! These are professionals at deception, truth twisting and confusion inducement while limiting and discouraging critical - independent thinking and family ties. If not for Chaim Feinberg (Z"l) and his amazing wife and family as well as a number of other rebbaim and deprogrammers I would likely be lost today. Your advice to "joe Jew" to steer clear of this den of poisonous spiders - is spot on! - Richard Maisel - ACSW, LMSW

(35)
Richard Maisel,
September 2, 2009 12:23 AM

Thankyou for all your comments; I just wanted to get back - Rich

David C 33 - Everything in this article IS true to the best of my recollection.
Anonymous 31 - Though the Seed disbanded for nearly 10 years in the aftermath of media exposure and the infiltration - They are back at it in Albany as they are in so very many other places as silent & smokeless ovens devouring the Jews.
e.b.b.m. 30 - The Messianic movement views The Jews as a very real And uniquely CHOSEN Keystone in the spiritual foundations of the world whose utter existence is an ongoing threat to THEIR claim of being possessors of THE ONE Ultimate Truth.The 'Chosen Peoples' conversion/elimination therefore is crucial to the J for J's self validation - Richard Maisel ACSW/LMSW

(34)
Andy,
August 31, 2009 4:03 PM

what is the proper response ?

Aish and the other Jewish outreach groups exist so that in the future young Pastor Birnbaums and others get Jewish educations and are not at the mercy of missionaries and others to welcome them "home". When unfulfilled by the Jewish community it's no surprise that spiritual voids are filled elsewhere.The huge number of Jews involved in Eastern religions are another example. It seems to me that it is the responsibility of the Jewish community particularly those who have been blessed with the knowledge and/or resources to help. It could well be that some of the original Christians were also Jews whofell through the cracks as a result of a direletion of duty by the established Jewish community

Anonymous,
December 9, 2013 8:24 PM

I agree with you 100 per cent, Andy.

(33)
Anonymous,
August 31, 2009 12:53 AM

responding to missionaries

I live in a very jewish area where most jews are non-observant. We get many missionaries that come door to door and I learned with the help from Jews for Judaism how to respond to missionaries--although my Rabbi told me from now on just don't answer the door. The few times that I did respond, gave me quite an adrenalin rush, because the missionaries were floored and had no idea how to respond.
I heard of one outreach professional respond like this: "So, are you telling me the only way I will get a place in Heaven is if I believe in Jesus?"
missionary: "Yes sir, that's right, you must believe in him otherwise you will go to hell"
Outreach professional: "Hitler believed in Jesus you know. I'd rather not have a place in Heaven with him--Hell sounds good to me."

(32)
David C,
August 30, 2009 1:32 AM

I am very saddened by reading this. If everything is true in this story, the Seed deserves to be prosecuted and shut down.

(31)
Anonymous,
August 29, 2009 2:32 AM

Too early to speak of the "dustbin of history" ....

Although Maisel's experiences with the Seed of Abraham congregation in Albany, New York happened around twenty years ago, it is naive to say that Seed of Abraham or the Messianic movement have disappeared into the dustbin of history. Seed of Abraham still exists in Albany and the Messianic movement has not gone away.

(30)
e.b.b.m.,
August 28, 2009 7:38 PM

whose fake

any religion which denouces people is obviously false and in their hearts they know its false which is what makes them try all the more to gather more members (so they could more easily rationalize its true) and secondly they try to destroy the truth (which is yidishkeit as i will prove later in this commentary) . christianity belives that they are the one truth and as a relult, yup thats right, they actively protest against other religions and try to gather 'converts'. muslims are comanded by their relegion, of coarse, to kill criistions and destroy jews. jews however keep to themselves let the other nations of the world belive what they want after all why should they care. furthermore opposite of other relegions we dont want converts in fact yiddishkeit is the only religion that belives that you don't need to be part of religion to belive. we belive that goyim should stay goyim but belive in hashem as a goy not a yid. i could go on and on with proofs that yidishkeitt is emes.

(29)
Joseph Woosley,
August 27, 2009 4:00 PM

An interesting read at first I didn't see the messianic group as threatening, but their later actions revealed their dangerous religious zeal. It reminds me of a group of Christian young women that came knocking on my door and in order to entice me at one point mentioned "Would I want to burn in hell for eternity? I know I wouldn't." As if through Christianity was the only true path to God. I think every religion has it's share of extremists, but in the United States it's mostly the extremist Christians that are the most threatening in their dialogue during conversion attempts. I've never had a Jehovah's Witness threaten me with hellfire for example.

(28)
Marie,
August 26, 2009 12:05 PM

As a former Christian...

I converted from Christianity to Judaism 10 yrs. ago. It is one of the three best, true to my self decisions of my life. As a Christian, the Jesus concept never made sense to me...I always prayed to God...the Father...of us all. I'm happier and more spiritually fulfilled as a Jew than I ever dreamed I could be. Finding my true religion was my pathway to God and to inner peace. I am saddened by such groups on college campuses, feeding on collegiates insecurities and vulnerability of being in an unfamiliar environment. I still have my struggles and questions and undoubtedly always will to one extent or another. No matter how often I may put my observance aside, I have always felt, thought and prayed as a Jew. I always return...I am finally home.

(27)
Anonymous,
August 26, 2009 9:02 AM

Pure Poison for Jews

Just as an aardvark can never become a zebra, so a Jew can never accept Christianity and remain a Jew, despite what the liars try to tell you. I am not anti-Christian in any manner, however I am unalterably opposed to missioinaries who try get me to believe that I am merely "completing" my Judaism. I would urge Jews to stay away from Messianic groups as you would a den of live black widow spiders. You may have an interest, but you will be bit and be ill for weeks if you don't die. ALL Jews need to know how to counter these groups. Judaism is Judaism, not a Zebra.

(26)
Sarah Leah,
August 26, 2009 4:51 AM

RESPONSE TO # 11

Shalom Anonymous,
I am here to tell you, from personal experience that Hashem not only forgives you but is SO pleased that you were able to grow enough to see the lie! Unfortuneately, there is a lot of baggage left over and in your case, 20 years. Please know that thinking G-d has turned his back on you is leftover goyisha propaganda. It is a great day when a Jew comes back to Torah. Especially from the road you traveled. I wish you many years of nachas and blessings. When that voice tries to come back and haunt you again, you tell it that you are a Jew and a Jew doesn't think that way :D

(25)
Cid,
August 25, 2009 9:10 PM

Bunch of Hippies!

I am glad someone actually did this! These Messianics need to be exposed for what they are. A falsely labeled package that advertises being Jewish when they are the farthest thing from it.
I was raised Christian, got into the Messianic thing later and not being satisfied with what I was taught about 'judaism' decided to learn on my own, as I did learn I gained doubts on my own about the whole messiah thing and eventually realized it was wrong! All of this I got from reading a traditional Jewish Tanakh they sold in their own gift shop --on Saturday of course! They were such hypocrites!
Needless to say I'm not with them anymore, and they have deemed me an evil 'lost soul' who must have never believed to begin with. They honestly know nothing about Judaism and go on teaching this muck to others.
I'm getting sick of finding their places of worship listed under synagogues too!

(24)
David Linn,
August 25, 2009 12:08 PM

The Year of "The "Year of the Seed"

Baruch Gershon. The events occurred in 1987-1988. The actual denunciation took place on March 2, 1988.

(23)
Pleasant,
August 25, 2009 2:10 AM

whooooooo! hoooooooo! ROFLMAO!

fINALLY!! I have been begging people to do something about those people for a long time- like 9 years! I discovered them before the real source 9 years ago, was so disgusted I left and never went back. Ran into someone with an ani l'dodi wedding band some 3 years later, started having a tiny weekly midrash and then went with her to temple, only to discover it AGAIN! They had taken over the entire orthodox temple in Desert Hot Springs, CA and the stupid temple committee that was left long ago had also sold them all the kedoshim and the rabbi's library!!!! I was absolutely disgusted. Then I ended up getting a job offer from one of their attendees who was an elderly attorney and when they found out I was working there they started pressuring him to fire me. "I can't fire her, she's not doing anything wrong." I would hear him say from his office. (there was an open archway between mine and his)
will someone PLEASE include me in this?!?!? PLease? I know all their stupid tricks and all their little lines and all their twisted quotes from the "scriptures". Please? I am your super spy where this is concerned. And I became legit in 2005 in LA at the University of Judaism. I have a rabbi to vouch for me, a certificate, everything. PLEASE? I will try to patiently await your contact. ;D

(22)
Betti Miner,
August 25, 2009 12:42 AM

Christian cults

I live in San Francisco and have actually shut up the "Jews for Jesus" people when I tell them the name of Jesus' father, one woman actually blanched when I told her and could not get fast enough away from me, I jut smiled at her and walked away!

(21)
Anonymous,
August 24, 2009 8:16 PM

Frightening

This article is absolutely frightening, but its veracity rings
forth from every word. I draw parallels between the "process of indoctrination," and the call to "worship" a human being "Jesus," and Catholic indoctrination european Jews were coerced, forced, and terrorized into, in order to survive.
The Jewish soul, in my experience is never ever at peace, unless it is "home," with the Jewish Community and Torah. The forced indoctrination (even volountary acceptance, in my opinion equals the same), of idolatry, is Spiritual blasphemy and there is a terrible price to be paid by those who succumb - the loss of inner peace.

(20)
ralph giordano,
August 24, 2009 7:10 PM

G-d's will be done!

What happens to a person like me?Grew up catholic but always needed more.I love Jews,Idonate to Jews I pray for Israel,Ihave a prayer in the wall of Jeruselem.How do I learn Torah?I pray for wisdom from G-d!May G-d bless you ane Israel!

Avigail F.,
October 2, 2013 8:03 PM

Bnei Noah is the answer for you

The laws of Bnei Noah (the Noahide laws) are for the non-Jew and detail the direct path for worshiping The Holly One Blessed is He. Ralph, you can ask at Aish.com about where to go to learn more. May you be blessed.

(19)
Baruch Gershom,
August 24, 2009 6:55 PM

When was the infiltration?

When exactly did the events in this story happen?

(18)
Steven Edelman,
August 24, 2009 6:26 PM

Christians can be venal in their pursuit.

I live in NC. A secretary at my first job here found out that I am Jewish, and began telling me every day for two straight weeks that I was going to Hell. I finally asked her if she believed that Jesus taught by word and deed. Enthused, she said that he had. I told her that I was following the most important example of his life. I will die without every denying that I am a Jew. She left me alone after that.

Anonymous,
October 4, 2013 12:43 PM

Great response!

(17)
Robert Perlmuter,
August 24, 2009 1:02 PM

Messianic Kiddush

Last week I was looking up Kiddush on you tube. In the Reform movement we say an abbreviated Kiddush, but I want to say the full Kiddush. I came across a "Hillel Kiddush" which was pure Jews for Jesus propaganda. I was very offended. If someone wants to follow "Jews for Jesus" they need to call themselves what they are- Christians.

(16)
Anonymous,
August 24, 2009 11:43 AM

Not everyone is the same

As an ex-Christian who converted to Judaism, I have personally been fortunate that most of those who love and care about me from my life and country before can see that nowadays I am much happier and contented as an observant Jew living in Israel. A few Christian friends I left behind have a big enough and deep enough trust in G-d to respect my path and decision as being truly of G-d and the right way for me, even though their theological understanding of how to have a relationship with G-d is different. Indeed, there is a hunger amongst some Christians for experiencing and learning about how Jews live their life, and some are questioning at least part of what they have been taught in the Church.
I still have some great conversations with an aunt of mine about G-d, even though she is a Christian and I am a Jew, because she respects my path. In fact I once said to her, "you haven't ever tried to argue with me about my decision." She responded, "Do you want me to?" I said, "No." She said, "Well then. If you had had any doubts about what you were doing I would have said something. But it was clear that you didn't." Mind you, she, like me, was actually descended from a Jewish family some generations back on my father's side. She has actually said that the "Old Testament" is a great book and that Christians should be more aware of its contents. "Everything is there," she has said. Nevertheless, she is still a Christian who is glad to be a physical descendant of Abraham herself, though she is not actually a Jew. We have a great relationship because each respects the other's path to G-d.
Nevertheless, while I am happy to be able to be sensitive towards Christian beliefs when Christians respect my own path to G-d as a Jew, if any Christian were to try to proselytize me, that would be a different story!

(15)
Michael,
August 24, 2009 11:24 AM

We did it!!

I know the feeling. I grew up reform. At an early age I thought the reform movement was hypocritical. I became an atheist, I married a gentile. Over the years I started to become a Deist- one who believes in G-d, but not in religion. I joined a "messy-antic" congregation thinking my ex-wife & I could have religious commonality. Something stuck in my craw since day 1. I had problems believing in jesus. I was eventually "ex-communicated". One seed had been planted in me, Torah. I started to become more observant. My wife & I eventually divorced. Today I'm an observant Jew attending an Orthodox shul. I have to thank them for one thing, though. As a reform Jew, there was a lot missing. I started an earnest study of Torah while w/ the "messys" which still continues today.

(14)
Andrea,
August 24, 2009 6:04 AM

Hurray for the Good Guys!

I used to work for an anti-missionary organization and always wanted to do something like this but was too chicken. I think what Rich did is fabulous.You couldn't have written a better script than his exposure of this modern-day Haman, and the fact that it parallels Queen Esther's exposure of the original is beyond great. Thanks, Rich.

(13)
Anonymous,
August 24, 2009 4:05 AM

kidnapping

what these SEED people did was kidnapping. where they ever prosecuted for it?

(12)
Anonymous,
August 24, 2009 2:24 AM

Very deceptive even in Australia

Thank you for this article!
These missionary groups are very deceptive! They lure the weak and the those unfortunately those who are not learnt in our Sacred Tradition.
Even here in Australia a group in Melbourne masquerades as a Jewish group and went out and bought an actual Torah but they hold services from an old Church in Hebrew and English. They are really a Christian missionary group preying on those not yet familiar with Torah!
They deceive people and we must be wary of these terrible people!

(11)
Anonymous,
August 23, 2009 10:01 PM

I GOT TRAPPED INTO THIS DANGEROUS CULT 20 YEARS AGO

I was "brain washed" into believing the big lie too. It took my wife, brother, an orthodox, conservative and reform rabbi and a rep from Jews for Judiasm to free me. However, it took me another 16 years - yes 16 years to get it out of my mind. I still believe to this day that G-d has turned his back on me for believing in this. Need assurance that G-d has forgiven me!

(10)
Judith,
August 23, 2009 8:56 PM

I read this story, sadly.

Hello,
As a non-Jew I read this story with sadness that such a
situation developed between peoples of different beliefs!

(9)
Susan,
August 23, 2009 8:22 PM

Happy to see an article on this subject.

I have been involved in researching and educating Jewish people about messianic "Judaism" and other such groups. Their methods are becoming bolder and their tactics change as old methods receive a lot of exposure. A newer group are Torah Observant Christians. They follow the most basic tenets and try to convince jews that they are trying to be Jewish, I have exposed one such group in my town. We all need to be aware that certain evangelical Christian groups will do anything to be accepted as part of the Jewish community in order to lure Jews to believe in Jesus as their messiah first and then as their savior. Thank you for your article but it barely scatches the surface.

(8)
Yosef Avraham,
August 23, 2009 5:27 PM

Jews are NOT christians !

What an amazing story ! Thank God for giving this young man the strength to continue especially after the interregation in that lonely room. Jew are Jews- not christians......it's like oil and water.....we don't mix !

(7)
Feivel,
August 23, 2009 4:44 PM

How fitting

Tjhere are no coincidences. That this came about on Purim is wonderful and this young man is a credit to himself, to Aish and to Klal Yisroel

(6)
mike,
August 23, 2009 4:38 PM

one of many traps out there

years ago when i was at city college i was approached by individuals looking for students to become involved with a "group" of other students who wanted to find a better way of relating to G-D. as i sat in a room in a local appartment i noticed a photo of an oriental man. when i asked another "student" -as many were not, i was told that it was rev. moon. i said to myself, "get out of here these are moonies" and i left very quickly. i was not very religious,but knew that this is what i did not want-pretty girls and all. today's campus life has more organizations than people can imagine trying to convert young jewish,marginally or non-affiliated students. on campus the only organization that is visable to bring these kids toward judaism is the chabad which is much more religious than most of these students want to/are able to relate to. it is sad that none of the moderate jewish organiztions see this as a priority. mike

(5)
miriamwcohen,
August 23, 2009 3:27 PM

teach authentic judaism to our young people

Most Jews, both the young people and their elders know very little these days about religion, their own or anyone else's. It is easy to be impressed by people who are passionate about religion and go along with them.
Robert Nowak, the news reporter who just recently died, converted to Catholicism late in life, because he said he knew very little abut Judaism and did not observe and became a spokesperson for Catholicism.
I do not think that it is necessary to follow Aish, although that is good, but just learn about staying Jewish, stay involved with other Jews and institutions, marry Jews and do not drop the thread.
This is a brave and strong young man who found his mission in life. I hope he can pass it on.

(4)
Yiska,
August 23, 2009 2:35 PM

Brilliant

I really can NOT stand these cults. What you did is wonderful and I hope to one day expose a cult as well.
<3

(3)
Batsheva Frankel,
August 23, 2009 2:25 PM

Amazing!

Thank you for sharing this incredible story of courage and faith. I'm so impressed with the dedication of all involved. This should be made into a documentary film to further expose other messianic temples.

(2)
Naomi,
August 23, 2009 1:41 PM

What Spiritual Strength!

Kol HaKovod to Rich! Not an easy task to do what he did and remain spiritually and mentally whole!
Glad to hear that Jews for Judaism got involved - they are a fantastic group that helps Jews stay away & get out of these types of traps.

(1)
Esther,
August 23, 2009 1:07 PM

Honored to know Rich!

Kol Hakavod! I feel honored to know you! I can't believe you never told this story at our Shabbos table - what a tale! LL&P!

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...